Cavs: 2013-14 player capsules

The following is a look at the 2013-14 Cavaliers:Starters
PG Kyrie Irving, 6-foot-3, 193 pounds: Heís poised to have a breakout season. He should make his second All-Star appearance this season. The real keys are becoming a better defensive player and getting his team to the playoffs. Expect to see more sets with Irving and Jarrett Jack on the court at the same time this season. Heís the teamís best ball handler and shooter. His scoring average might not make much of a jump from last seasonís 22.5 points per game because the roster has improved. His assist total should improve from his 5.9 last year.
SG Dion Waiters, 6-4, 225: Coach Mike Brown has him playing strictly at the ď2.Ē Heís an outstanding passer. He also gets to the basket at will. He needs to better understand the team game. He was a first-team All-Rookie selection last season. Heís now in better shape. Both Irving and Waiters need to stay away from the nagging injuries this season. The Cavs think their three-guard rotation of Irving, Waiters and Jack could be one of the best in the league.
C Anderson Varejao, 6-11, 267: Heís another player who needs to stay on the court. It does the Cavs no good to see Varejao on the sideline in a nice suit. He truly knows how to play and is a good passer for a big man. His relentless style is his trademark. Heís now 31 years old and is the teamís oldest player. Coach Mike Brown no longer cringes when he shoots. He was leading the NBA in rebounding last year at 14.4 per game when he injured his knee. He played just 25 games.
PF Tristan Thompson, 6-9, 238: He could be the hardest worker on the team. He attacks the boards with a vengeance, much like teammate Varejao. He made the transformation to being a right-handed shooter in the offseason. He shot 52.1 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the foul line in the preseason. He averaged 12.5 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds. He could have his best season in the NBA in 2013-14.
SF Earl Clark, 6-10, 234: Neither Clark nor Alonzo Gee asserted themselves in the preseason. Clark shot just 38.9 percent from the field after an atrocious start. He averaged 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in the preseason. Brown wants his small forward to defend, rebound and make the right play. The Cavs are intrigued by his 6-10 frame.Rotation
PG Jarrett Jack, 6-3, 200: He just turned 30 years old, which is starting to get old for a guard. The Cavs signed him to a four-year contract. His leadership is a big reason he was brought to the team. The Cavs stuck him in between Irving and Waiters in the locker room for a reason. He averaged 4.5 points and 4.3 assists in the preseason, but shot just 35 percent from the field. Heíll often be on the floor with Irving at the end of games. He missed four games with an inflamed knee.
SG C.J. Miles, 6-6, 231: He averaged 12 points in four preseason games. Heís a streaky shooter, who can take over games with his perimeter shooting. At times, though, he gives up as many points as he scores. Heís been bothered by a sore left leg in the preseason.
SF: Alonzo Gee, 6-6, 225: He remains one of the teamís top defenders, which means heíll likely remain in Brownís rotation. He shot a team-high 55.6 percent from behind the arc in the preseason. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in five preseason games. Some think he outplayed Clark in the preseason.
PF: Anthony Bennett, 6-8, 259: The first overall pick in the 2013 draft is still getting in shape. He spent the majority of the summer rehabilitating a torn labrum. He averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in the preseason. Heís got great offensive skills, but needs to improve defensively. Twenty-eight of his 69 field-goal attempts in the preseason were 3-pointers. Brown doesnít seem to have a problem with it.
C Tyler Zeller, 7-0, 253: Like Andrew Bynum, he didnít appear in a preseason game. Zeller did play in the Wine & Gold Scrimmage, where he injured his hip. The next day, he suffered an appendectomy, which wiped out the rest of the preseason. He could get the medical clearance to play in the opener. Heís improved his upper-body strength in the offseason, which should help his rebounding and post defense. He can shoot from 15 feet.Others
PG Matthew Dellavedova, 6-4, 200: Heís an undrafted rookie free agent. The St. Maryís product was a former point guard for the Australian National team in the 2012 London Olympics. The Cavs like his toughness. He needs to cut down on his turnovers and improve his shooting. He shot 26.5 percent from the field and 20 percent from the 3-point line in the preseason.
C Andrew Bynum, 7-0, 294: He signed a two-year, $25.5 million deal with the Cavs, $6 million guaranteed. He didnít make an appearance in a preseason game. He doesnít appear to be that far off from getting on the court. Bynum hasnít played since the tail end of his 2011-12 All-Star season. Heís a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.
SG Carrick Felix, 6-6, 201: He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. He missed considerable time in the preseason with a hernia. When he did get on the court, he showed that he could defend on an NBA level and that he is extremely raw on the offensive end.
SG Sergey Karasev, 6-7, 196: The Cavsí other first-round pick, No. 19 overall. He played on the Russian National team in the Olympics. He possesses a soft jumper from the perimeter. He knows how to play, which is expected from the son of a coach.
C Henry Sims, 6-10, 248: He held down the backup center job in the preseason. He played quite well and averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot a team-high 58.8 percent from the field in the preseason.Coach
Mike Brown:† He compiled a 272-138 record (.663) during his first stint with the Cavs from 2005-10. Heís back for another go-round after being handpicked by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Brown will hold the players accountable on defense, something that is long overdue. He spent parts of two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before being fired after five games in 2012-13. He was 42-29 overall with the Lakers.General manager
Chris Grant: He should be given much credit for upgrading the Cavsí roster in the offseason. He added three draft picks and three significant free agents to help the Cavs bulk up. They still have cap space and draft picks moving forward. The Cavs have the assets to pull off a significant deal at the trade deadline.

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About the Author

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@morningjournal.com
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